F 

76G 


1       C6 


Observations  on  the  Fishes  of  the  Terti- 
ary Shales  of  Green  River,  Wyoming 
Territory. 

By  Prof.  E.  D.  COPE. 

From  the  Proceedings  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society. 


M'Calla  &  Stavely,  Prs.,  237-4  Dock  St.,  Phlla. 


1870.]  379 

great  scheme,  it  secured  large  contributions  from  our  citizens,  and  as 
its  crowning  work,  it  organized  the  Great  Central  Fair  in  1864 — an 
enduring  memorial,  not  merely  of  the  patriotism  and  mercy  of  the 
people  of  Philadelphia,  but  also  a  wonderful  proof  of  their  perfect 
trust  that  their  vast  benefactions  would  be  wisely  administered  by 
Mr.  Binney,  and  the  gentlemen  associated  with  him. 

It  has  sometimes  been  said  that  the  war  and  its  duties,  brought  into 
active  excercise  qualities  in  many  men  which  had  lain  dormant  all  their 
lives,  and  of  the  existence  of  which  they  themselves  had  hardly  been 
conscious.  But  in  Mr.  Binney 's  case,  the  war  only  offered  an  oppor- 
tunity for  an  exhibition  on  a  wider  sphere  of  virtues,  which  had  been 
his  essential  characteristics  through  life.  He  had  courage,  for  in- 
stance,—not  mere  coolness  in  the  midst  of  danger,  although  he  pos- 
sessed that  to  an  eminent  degree, — but  a  much  loftier  quality,  which 
the  French  call  the  courage  of  one's  opinions.  His  convictions  were 
intensely  strong,  and  when  once  formed,  no  power  on  earth  would 
move  him.  Out  of  every  conviction  grew  a  duty,  which  soon  brought 
forth  fruit  in  an  appropriate  act.  No  one  who  knew  Mr.  Binney, 
could  doubt  his  perfect  readiness  to  maintain  opinions  so  formed, 
with  the  courage  and  constancy  of  a  martyr.  And  yet  there  was 
at  all  times  in  him,  such  true  modesty,  and  a  manner  so  unassum- 
ing, and  almost  shrinking,  that  to  many  the  real  strength  of  his  na- 
ture lay  hidden.  His  largeness  of  view,  and  his  innate  sense  of  cour- 
tesy, preserved  him  from  the  slightest  taint  of  arrogance  when  he 
differed  from  others.  Certainly,  no  opinions  were  held  by  Mr.  Bin- 
ney more  strongly  or  clearly,  than  those  concerning  the  nature  and 
the  functions  of  the  Church,  and  yet  I  have  seen  him  in  the  most  in- 
timate personal  relations  with  representatives  of  almost  every  type 
of  thought  on  this  subject,  except  his  own,  at  all  times  most  zealous- 
ly co-operating  with  them  in  the  performance  of  duties  demanded  by 
a  common  Christianity. 

As  Mr.  Binney  was  earnest  and  constant  in  his  devotion  to  any 
cause  the  success  of  which  he  had  at  heart,  so  he  was  enthusiastic  in 
his  attachment  to  those  whom  he  honored  with  his  friendship.  This 
is  a  trait  of  his  character  which  I  think  is  little  understood.  Few 
suspected  what  a  fount  of  generous  affection  and  tenderness  lay  hid- 
den under  that  quiet  and  undemonstrative  exterior.  When  he  once 
trusted  a  man,  he  seemed  to  give  himself  up  wholly  to  him.  The 
only  instances  which  I  can  recall,  in  which  his  usually  calm  judgment 
was  disturbed,  arose  from  this  intense  desire  to  serve  his  friends.  On 
one  occasion  I  had  urged  him  to  support  for  an  important  position  a 
gentleman  in  whose  success  I  felt  a  deep  interest.  After  listen- 
ing patiently  to  what  I  had  to  say,  he  suddenly  exclaimed  :  "Do  not 
press  me,  do  you  know  that  Dr.  -  —  (the  opposing  candidate),  once 
saved  my  life  ? "  Then  again,  he  was  led  to  feel  that  one  of  his  friends 


Stille\]  [May  6, 1870. 

had  done  some  service  to  the  country  by  his  writings  at  a  critical 
period  of  the  war.  From  that  hour  his  heart  warmed  towards  that 
friend :  he  gave  him  his  fullest  confidence,  he  spoke  in  the  most  un- 
measured terms  of  the  value  of  his  services,  and  whatever  influence 
he  could  command,  was  thenceforth  exerted  to  secure  for  him  posts 
of  trust  and  honor.  And  this  is  the  man,  with  a  heart  as  simple  as 
a  child's,  and  as  tender  as  a  woman's,  who  was  thought  cold  and  for- 
mal by  those  who  did  not  know  him. 

Mr.  Binney  never  fully  recovered  from  the  effects  of  an  illness 
through  which  he  passed  about  ten  years  ago.  Within  a  few  weeks 
of  his  death,  a  disease  of  the  heart  was  rapidly  developed,  and  he 
was  snatched  away  from  his  family  and  friends  with  startling  sud- 
deness,  on  the  third  of  February,  1870.  He  left  a  widow,  the  daughter 
of  the  late  William  Johnson,  Esquire,  of  New  York,  the  eminent 
Reporter,  and  the  intimate  friend  of  Chancellor  Kent,  and  seven 
children. 

His  life  seems  to  me  to  have  been  in  its  symmetrical  beauty  almost 
an  ideal  one.  It  was  nurtured  and  strengthened  by  the  two  great 
principles  out  of  which  all  true  excellence  springs,  Trust  in  God,  and 
Devotion  to  Duty : 

"Thus  it  flowed 

From  its  mysterious  um  a  sacred  stream, 

In  whose  calm  depths  the  beautiful  and  pure 

Alone  are  mirror'd ;  which,  though  shapes  of  ill 

May  hover  round  its  surface,  glides  in  light, 

And  takes  no  shadow  from  them." 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  FISHES  OF  THE  TERTIARY  SHALES 

OF  GREEN  RIVER,  WYOMING  TERRITORY. 

BY  PROF.  E.  D.  COPE. 

Physoclysti. 

ASINEOPS,  Cope,  gen.  nov. 

FAM.  SQUAMIPENNES.  Branchiostegal  radii,  seven ;  ventral  radii  I.  6-7. 
Opercular  and  other  cranial  bones  unarmed ;  scales  cycloid.  Spinous  and 
cartilaginous  dorsal  fins  continuous;  caudal  rounded;  anal  with  two  spines. 
Lateral  line  distinct,  not  interrupted.  Operculum  with  regularly  convex 
posterior  border.  Teeth  coarsely  villiform,  without  canines.  Both  spinous 
and  soft  portions  of  dorsal  and  anal  fins  moderately  scaly. 

This  well  marked  genus  is  established  on  the  remains  of  fifteen  indi- 
viduals, in  various  states  of  preservation,  so  that  the  characters  undis- 
tinguishable  in  one,  can  be  discovered  in  another.  Thus  the  lateral  line  is 
preserved  in  one  only,  and  the  teeth  in  another.  In  none  can  I  be  entirely 
sure  that  I  see  the  vomer. 

The  scales  are  preserved  in  many  specimens,  and  I  cannot  find  a  ctenoid 
margin  in  any,  nor  any  radiating  sculpture,  but  delicate  concentric  ridges 
continued  round  the  central  point  proximally,  distally  forming  parabolic 


Cope.]  [May  6, 1870. 

curves,  the  less  median  not  completed  but  interrupted  by  the  margin  of 
the  scale.  Near  the  margin  all  the  ridges  become  gently  zig-zagged. 

There  is  no  depression  between  the  two  portions  of  the  dorsal  fin,  though 
the  cartilagius  portion  is  the  more  elevated.  Laid  backwards,  the  latter 
is  in  line  with  the  extremity  of  the  anal,  and  both  extend  beyond  the  basis 
of  the  caudal. 

The  close  affinities  of  this  genus  are  difficult  to  determine  with  entire 
satisfaction.  In  its  smooth  cranial  bones  and  united  dorsals  it  is  like  the 
genera  Apsilus  Cuv.  Val.  of  the  Atlantic,  and  Micropterus  Lac.  of  the  fresh 
waters  of  North  America.  Its  numerous  ventral  radii,  agreeing  with 
those  of  the  BerycidaB  (or  Agassiz'  section  Holocentri  in  Poiss.  Fossiles) 
separate  it  entirely  from  the  above  genera.  The  absence  of  the  emarigina- 
tion  of  the  operculum,  also  distinguishes  it  from  Micropterus.  Its  affini- 
ties are,  however,  entirely  remote  from  the  Berycida3.  The  genus  to  which 
it  stands  in  nearest  relationship,  is  PygaBus,  of  Agassiz,  which  he  refers  to 
the  Chaetodontidae,  and  which,  if  so  referred,  will  intervene  between  the 
typical  forms  of  the  family,  and  the  aberrant  Toxotes.  The  only  char- 
acter by  which  I  distinguish  it  from  Pyga3us,  is  the  presence  of  one  or  two 
additional  ventral  radii,  the  number  in  the  latter  genus  being  I.  5.  Nine 
species  of  that  genus  are  described  in  the  Poissons  Fossiles  all  from 
Monte  Bolca,  and  the  existence  of  the  present  near  ally,  suggests  a  deter- 
mination of  the  age  of  the  Green  River  beds,  which  the  other  species  do 
not  furnish.  This  would  be  upper  Eocene. 

ASINEOPS    SQUAMIFRONS,    Cope,    Sp.    11OV. 

General  form  is  sub-oblong,  the  greatest  depth  just  behind  the  head, 
and  contained  two  and  a  half  times  in  the  length  exclusive  of  caudal  fin. 
Radii  D.  VIII,  14;  A.  II,  9;  C.  14;  V.I,  7;  P.  ?11  ?13.  Scales  5— ?30— 10, 
vertical  line  counted  a  little  behind  the  ventral  fins.  The  line  of  the  ex- 
tremities of  the  second  dorsal  and  anal  fins,  marks  the  basal  third  of  the 
caudal  fin.  The  dorsal  spines  are  sub-cylindric,  slightly  curved,  and  of 
nearly  equal  length;  the  length  equals  the  depth  of  the  body  at  the  middle 
of  the  second  dorsal  fin. 

The  external  series  of  villiform  teeth  are  stout  of  their  kind,  conic,  and 
a  little  incurved.  I  cannot  see  the  pharyngeal  bones  or  teeth. 

The  number  of  vertebra  which  extends  between  the  caudal  fin  and  the 
superior  margin  of  the  operculum,  where  one  or  more  are  concealed,  is 
twenty-five,  of  which  fifteen  are  of  the  caudal  portion  (in  two  I  can  only 
count  fourteen). 

The  mouth  is  directed  obliquely  downwards  and  is  rather  large ;  the 
mandible,  when  closed,  does  not  project  beyond  the  premaxillary  border. 
The  maxillary,  where  preserved,  is  narrow  distally,  and  does  not  project 
beyond  the  posterior  line  of  the  orbit.  The  latter  is  rather  small,  and 
though  not  well  defined  in  any  specimen,  is  not  more  than  one-eighth  the 
length  of  the  head,  and  1.5  to,  1.75  times  inside  of  muzzle.  The  margins 
of  all  the  opercular  bones  are  entire  and  smooth.  The  interoperculum  is  • 
narrow,  and  lies  obliquely  upwards,  narrowing  the  operculum.  The 

A.  P.  s. — VOL.  xi. — 20E 


Cope.l 

greatest  width  of  the  latter  is  more  than  two-thirds  its  depth.  The  pelvic 
supports  of  the  ventral  fins  are  slender,  and  about  half  the  length  of  the 
fin.  The  pectoral  fins  are  not  elongate. 

The  scales  extend  over  the  top  of  the  head  to  or  beyond  the  orbits. 
They  also  extend  out  on  the  ramus  of  the  under  jaw.  Those  of  the  fins 
are  quite  small ;  they  extend  to  a  considerable  distance  on  the  unpaired 

and  on  the  caudal  fins. 

M. 

Total  length  of  the  largest  specimen 0.19 

Do.  No.  2,  smaller  example  (with  caudal) 0.12 

Length  of  head  of  do 0.044 

Depth  of  do.  posteriorly  about 0.036 

Length  base  spinous  dorsal 0.0265 

"        posterior    "   ray 0.017 

11        operculum 0.0125 

'•        maxillary  bone  about 0.0145 

Depth  No.  3,  at  base  1st  dorsal 0.045 

"  "      "     u    anal,  1st  ray 0.0325 

Length  basis  anal=basis  caudal 0.0162 

"        caudal  fin 0.034 

Tertiary  strata  of  Green  River,  Wyoming;  Dr.  F.  V.  Hayden,  Coll.  Mus. 
Smithsonian. 

CLUPEA  HUMILIS,  Leidy. 
Proc.  Acad.  Nat'l  Sciences,  1856,  256. 

Vertebrae  34.     Depth  2£  to  2§  lines  in  length  exclus  caudal  fin  (2£  times, 
Leidy).     Scales  large;  1.  transverse  11-12. 
A  very  abundant  species  in  the  shales. 

CLUPEA  PUSILLA,  Cope. 

Greatest  depth  contained  four  times  in  the  total  length,  or  3.5  times  to 
basis  of  caudal  fin.  Length  of  head  3.2  to  basis  caudal;— this  measure- 
ment may  require  revision,  as  the  end  of  the  muzzle  is  slightly  injured. 
Orbit  large,  contained  twice  in  length  of  head  behind  it.  Middle  of  dorsal 
near  the  middle  of  length,  and  about  over  the  origins  of  the  ventrals.  D. 
II,  11,  V.  7.  Pectorals  extending  half  way  to  ventrals.  Vertebrae  29-30, 
dorsals  19-20.  Ventral  keeled  ribs  18.  Anal  fin  lost.  Caudal  peduncle  slen- 
der, caudal  fin  deeply  furcate.  Length  M.  044;  greatest  depth  M.  Oil. 

The  present  species  is  about  half  the  size  of  the  last,  and  of  consider- 
ably less  proportionate  depth. 

CYPRINODON  LEVATUS,  Cope. 

Anterior  margin  anal  fin  commencing  a  little  behind  opposite  the  pos- 
terior margin  of  the  dorsal.  Vertebrae  10.  14.  I.  Radii  D.  8,  A.  II.  8,  V. 
8.  Caudal  fin  deeply  furcate;  first  anal  ray  strong. 

General  form  elongate,  the  greatest  depth  contained  three  times  in  the 
length  between  the  scapular  arch  and  the  basis  of  the  caudal  fin.  Scales 
preserved,  small ;  seven  longitudinal  series  above,  and  seven  below  the 
vertebral  column,  probably  two  rows  concealed  by  it.  The  caudal  peduncle 
is  rather  contracted  for  the  genus.  Length  from  scapular  arch  to  extrem- 
ity of  caudal  M.  0335;  depth  at  origin  dorsal  fin  M.  008. 


1870.]  [Cope. 

There  are  portions  of  five  individuals  on  the  slab  of  slate,  but  none  pre- 
sent a  clear  cranium.  This  slab  represents  that  portion  of  the  stratum 
which  is  highly  carbonaceous,  portions  of  it  thrown  into  the  fire  burn 
freely.  Dr.  Hayden,  who  has  brought  numerous  specimens  from  this 
locality,  informs  me  that  the  lamirae  exhibit  great  numbers  of  these  little 
fishes.  No  doubt  the  carbonaceous  character  of  the  shales  is  due  to  the 
decomposition  of  their  bodies.  The  character  of  the  species,  as  well  as 
nature  of  the  deposit,  and  mode  of  preservation,  remind  one  strongly  of 
the  Cyprinodon  meyeri,  of  Agassiz.  from  the  neighborhood  of  Frankfort  a. 
M.  That  species  differs  especially  in  presenting  18  Anal  radii. 

Some  of  the  specimens  above  described  were  obtained  and  preserved  for 
scientific  study,  by  David  B.  Collier,  formally  United  States  District  At- 
torney for  the  Territory  of  Wyoming. 

From  a  Tertiary  deposit  on  the  upper  waters  of  Green  River,  Wyoming 
Territory,  from  a  laminated  calcareous  rock  similar  in  color  and  appear- 
ance to  the  clay  beds  of  Mount  Lebanon  and  Mount  Bolca.  The  first  in- 
dication of  the  existence  of  this  deposit  was  brought  by  Dr.  Jno.  Evans, 
who  obtained  from  it  a  Clupeoid,  which  was  described  by  Dr.  Leidy,  as 
Clupea  humilis  (Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Phila.,  1850,  p.  256).  One  of  the 
blocks  contains  the  remains  of  two  small  shoals  of  the  fry,  probably  of 
Clupea  humilis.  which  were  caught  suddenly  by  a  slide  or  fall  of  calca- 
reous mud,  and  entombed  for  the  observation  of  future  students.  They 
must  have  been  taken  unwares,  since  they  lie  with  their  heads  all  in  one 
direction  as  they  swam  in  close  bodies.  One  or  two  may  have  had  a  mo- 
ment's warning  of  the  catastrophe,  as  they  have  turned  a  little  aside,  but 
they  are  the  exceptions.  The  fry  are  from  one-half  to  three-quarters  of 
an  inch  long  and  upwards. 

True  herring,  or  those  with  teeth,  are  chiefly  marine,  but  they  run  into 
fresh  waters  and  deposit  their  spawn  in  the  Spring  of  the  year,  and  then 
return  to  salt  waters.  The  young  run  down  to  the  sea  in  Autumn  and 
remain  there  till  old  enough  to  spawn.  The  size  of  the  fry  of  the  Rocky 
Mountain  herring  indicates  that  they  had  not  long  left  the  spawning 
ground,  while  the  abundance  of  adults  suggests  they  were  not  far  from 
salt  water,  their  native  element.  To  believe,  then,  that  the  locality  from 
which  the  specimens  were  taken  was  neither  far  from  fresh,  nor  far  from 
salt  waters,  is  reasonable;  and  this  points  to  a  tide,  or  brackish  inlet  or 
river.  Lastly,  the  species  of  Cyprinodon  inhabit  also,  tide  and  brackish 
waters.  Most  of  the  species  of  the  family,  as  well  as  of  the  genus,  are  in- 
habitants of  fresh  water;  but  they  generally,  especially  the  Cyprinodons 
proper,  prefer  still  and  muddy  localities,  and  often  occur  in  water  really 
salt.  This  habitat  distinguishes  them  especially  from  Cyprinidae  (Min- 
nows and  Suckers)  and  Pike. 

The  material  which  composes  the  shales  indicates  quiet  water,  and  not 
such  as  is  usually  selected  by  herring  for  spawning  in;  while  the  abund- 
ance of  adult  Clupeas  indicate  the  proximity  of  salt  water. 

This  is  far  from  a  satisfactory  demonstration  of  the  nature  of  the  water 
which  deposited  this  mass  of  shales,  but  is  the  best  that  can  be  obtained 
with  such  a  meagre  representation  of  species. 


Cope.]  [May  6, 1870, 

As  to  geological  age,  the  indications  are  rather  more  satisfactory.  The 
genus  Clupea  ranges  from  the  upper  Eocene  upwards,  being  abundant  in 
the  slates  of  Lebanon  and  Monta  Bolca,  while  Cyprinodon  has  been  found 
in  neither,  but  first  appears  in  the  Middle  or  Lower  Miocene  in  Europe. 
The  Asineops  resemble  very  closely,  and  I  believe  essentially,  the  Pygeaus 
of  Agassiz,  of  Eocene  age,  from  Monta  Bolca.  The  peculiarities  pre- 
sented by  the  genus  found  by  Dr.  Hayden,  are  of  such  small  significance 
as  to  lead  me  to  doubt  the  beds  in  question  being  of  later  than  Eocene 
age;  though  the  evidence  rests  chiefly  on  this  single,  new  and  peculiar 
genus. 

The  position  of  these  fishes,  7000  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  fur- 
nishes another  illustration  of  the  extent  of  elevations  of  regions  once  con- 
nected with  the  ocean,  and  the  comparatively  late  period  of  Geologic  time 
at  which,  in  this  case,  this  elevation  took  place. 

SUPPLEMENTARY  NOTICE  OF  A  NEW  CHIM^ERID  FROM  NEW  JERSEY. 
LEPTOMYLUS  COOKII,  Cope. 

Indicated  by  a  right  inferior  maxillary  bone,  of  one-fourth  the  size  of 
that  indicating  the  Leptomylus  densus.  In  general  form  the  ramus  re- 
sembles that  of  Ischyodus  divaricatus,  the  posterior  portion  being  curved 
outwards  from  the  symphyseal.  The  latter  region  is  much  compressed 
and  moderately  prolonged,  the  inner  face  quite  concave  ;  posteriorly  the 
outer  face  is  also  slightly  concave.  There  is  a  single  external  crest,  which 
is  obtuse,  and  descends  gradually  to  the  plane  of  the  beak,  and  presents 
no  dentinal  area.  A  single  small  oval  area  represents  the  internal,  so  large 
in  Ischyodus.  It  lies  along  the  inner  margin.  This  margin  is  much 
thickened,  and  rolled  over  inwards  ;  symphyseal  face  very  narrow.  The 
extremity  of  the  beak  is  broken  away,  and  the  section  shows  that  there  is 
no  inferior  plate-like  column,  which  produces  the  terminal  area  in  most 
species  of  Ischyodus,  but  a  round  column,  which  issues  on  the  upper  sur- 
face of  the  beak,  behind  the  apex. 

Lines. 

Depth  at  posterior  margin  outer  crest 25.4 

"        "  anterior  base  "        "     15. 

"        "  end  terminal  column 6.8 

Width  of  inner  area 2. 

"       at      "      "     10.6 

"        "  middle  of  beak 5.4 

The  apical  dentinal  column  of  this  species  distinguishes  it  from  the  L. 
densus,  Cope,  where  no  such  column  exists.  It  may  be  noted  that  at  the 
posterior  fractured  section  of  the  jaw,  the  apical  column  is  seen,  while  in- 
ternal dental  area  is  not,  the  latter  occupying  only  a  pocket,  not  a  column. 
This  species  approximates  Ischyodus  solidulus  in  the  apical  column, 
which  has  the  same  form  in  both.  The  two  dentinal  faces  the  latter  pos- 
sesses, are  those  of  true  Ischyodus. 

From  the  upper  marl  bed  of  the  Cretaceous  of  New  Jersey,  from  near  Mt. 
Holly.  Dedicated  to  Prof.  Geo.  H.  Cook,  under  whose  auspices  the  palse- 
ontological  interests  of  the  State  survey  have  been  extended. 


